Tao Te Ching is a book that was written to express Taoist values and is immensely influential in Chinese philosophy. Below is a excerpt from Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu: "Not to honor men of worth will keep the people from contention; not to value goods which are hard to come by will keep them from theft; not to display what is desirable will keep them from being unsettled of mind." This text displays Tzu's belief of how Taoism should be. It encourages Taoists to live simply and be free of all worries. Taoism has been very influential on Chinese literature in other ways as well. Taoism effected the way people lived and the way people live effects the topics and themes that authors write. As you read above, much ancient Chinese literature reflected the values of Taoism, like Tao Te Ching. A Tao philosopher, Chuang Tzu, introduced Taoist ideas by using fables. To read more about taoist literature, go to http://tao-in-you.com/tao_major_works.html.
Taoist LiteratureTao Te Ching is a book that was written to express Taoist values and is immensely influential in Chinese philosophy. Below is a excerpt from Tao Te Ching by Lao Tzu:
"Not to honor men of worth will keep the people from contention; not to value goods which are hard to come by will keep them from theft; not to display what is desirable will keep them from being unsettled of mind."
This text displays Tzu's belief of how Taoism should be. It encourages Taoists to live simply and be free of all worries.
Taoism has been very influential on Chinese literature in other ways as well. Taoism effected the way people lived and the way people live effects the topics and themes that authors write. As you read above, much ancient Chinese literature reflected the values of Taoism, like Tao Te Ching. A Tao philosopher, Chuang Tzu, introduced Taoist ideas by using fables. To read more about taoist literature, go to http://tao-in-you.com/tao_major_works.html.